I would like to welcome all of you to our Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Annual Meeting that will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 7pm at Loulen’s Restaurant.  At this meeting, we will announce the newly elected officers that will be installed at our July Installation banquet.  I encourage all members to attend this upcoming meeting, get to know your newly elected Filipino Chamber officers and Board members and show them your support.

It has been a very interesting year for the current Filipino Chamber administration. Our struggling economy created bad financial situations for everyone.  Giant companies went into bankruptcy, smaller businesses slowly closed down and the unemployment rate has sky rocketed.  Overall, consumer spending decreased and financial struggles became a state, national, and global concern.  But, the Filipino Chamber has managed to keep afloat and gain support from the community.

However, I am proud of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s accomplishments and how we survived through the tough economic times.  Members of this organization were able to pull together to make ends meet.  Committee Chairs and their committee members stepped up to the plate with each project and they delivered outstanding results. I commend everyone for their hard work and dedication.  Our loyal members are hard workers and are dedicated to helping this organization grow.  The commitment of chamber members is one of the reasons why I am proud to be a part of this great organization. 

As businesses continue to struggle we realize that there are more obstacles that lie ahead.  A problem such as the swine flu can be a very difficult obstacle for the Hotel and Travel Industry.  The impact could deliver another blow to Hawaii’s struggling economy. Consumer spending is already frayed but a problem like the swine flu forces businesses to look at more innovative and alternative ways to survive. If tourism accounts for a little less than 50% of Hawaii’s gross domestic product, then the problems will be more severe than what we would expect.

At this time, there are no quick fix solutions.  Businesses need to cultivate their relationships with their current partners and build more partnerships in different markets to strengthen their network.  In a sales oriented business, your sales quantity is important but your quality of service is more important.  Overall, networking is the most powerful tool and serves as a vital part of your business plan.  I am a firm believer in networking, building relationships and servicing.  In a nut shell, businesses need to rely on their marketing plan to help them move forward.  An organization such as the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii is a good place to start and learn how to grow your business.  For feedback and questions you may email me at jason@j2marketingsolutions.com.